Read what the statement actually covers
“Accessibility” can refer to a building, a ticketing process or a website. The SEC’s Site Accessibility page, for example, is about sec.co.uk: it says the site aims to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA and offers the Recite Me toolbar for reading aloud, translation and display changes. That is useful, but it tells you nothing about step-free access to a particular meeting room.
Other venues publish material about the physical visit. Excel London’s visitor pages include accessibility information and mobility aid reservation. Liverpool Experience Campus links an accessibility strategy, an AccessAble guide and an inclusivity toolkit from its main navigation. Start by identifying which kind of document you are reading. A reassuring heading is not enough; the content has to answer your question.
Follow the complete journey
Map arrival, entry, registration, the main programme, refreshments, toilets and departure. Start from the relevant station or drop-off point, not the reception desk. Ask what happens when a lift, entrance or facility is out of use.
For each room you book, request access information for that room rather than a general statement about the building. A large venue may host several events at once, and the entrance used for your booking may not be the one on the public visitor map.
Ask about participation, not just entry
Getting into a room is not the same as being able to take part. Consider the stage and speaker access, sightlines, hearing support, captioning, lighting, seating choice, quiet space and the format of presentations and registration materials.
Invite attendees to tell you what adjustments they need through a clear, private route. Do not ask for unnecessary medical detail or assume every requirement is visible. Give a named contact and say when the information will be used.
Record the agreed arrangements
Turn the discussion into a plan with responsibilities and timings: who provides equipment, who tests it, who briefs staff and who handles changes on the day. Where an adjustment needs advance booking, set an internal deadline that still leaves time to respond to later requests.
Check the plan with the venue and the relevant suppliers. A promised service without an owner can disappear between the sales team and the operations team. Give staff the practical information they need without sharing personal details more widely than necessary.
State the limits honestly
Publish useful factual visitor information rather than an unqualified promise that the event is accessible to everyone. Explain what you have confirmed, provide a route for questions and update the information when the venue or programme changes.
For an example of the questions in a specific setting, see our desk assessment of Liverpool Experience Campus, and our wider guide to choosing a venue around the event.
Sources
- SEC Site Accessibility statement
- Excel London organiser and visitor information
- Liverpool Experience Campus (accessibility strategy, AccessAble guide and inclusivity toolkit linked from the site navigation)
Sources checked on 19 October 2026. This is a desk-based planning guide, not an access audit, legal opinion or certification of any venue.
